Thank you! Thank you to all who have marked my story in their favorites! I appreciate your support! Thank you for baring with the many mistakes in the first few chapters. I am hoping that it is getting better with the proofreading and corrections. If not, please let me know and I will get a different person to proofread, than the one I have now. Thank you for all your comments and feedback.
************************************
Debris hits the wall next to the doors of Lord Asmodeus' study. An explosion of wood, glass and metal. Zuel timidly enters. The room completely dismantled from his master's rage. "My lord," he stutters, praying not to anger him any further, "May, I be of some assistance?" A lump forms in Zuel's throat, he tries to force down. Zuel has seen his masters anger once before and that is all he ever needed see. Then, like now, sparks a great deal of fear within him. The fact, his lord could rip him apart without even a second thought. He remembers how he came to be in the lord's service. The last butler torn apart with one swipe of Lord Asmodeus' claw. He swallows hard.
Lord Asmodeus vaults his head towards the ceiling, letting out a terrifying roar. His demon figure pulsates with the purest form of a demon's fury. A sharp turn of his gaze. His breath heavy. His features twist in utter discontent at his servant standing, trembling before him. On most occasions it would please him to see such a sight, but now, now all he wants to do, is to tare the man apart. Taking every bit of his own strength not to act on his impulses. He knew that it wasn't Zuel he was angry with. Oh, but to feel ripping flesh in his hands right at this moment, would amuse him greatly.
Again, his voice thunders out, causing Zuel to take step back. "My lord?" he swallows hard, continuing to force the lump in his throat down. I'm dead, he thinks to himself. His body goes limp with defeat. He waits for the end to his very own existence. Nothing, no breaking bones, no taring to his flesh. His head still low, opening one eye, he peeks, to see Lord Asmodeus returning to his human appearance. He finally lets himself breathe a sigh of relief.
"Zuel, I need you to find someone, a human servant to attend Sarah." Anger still taints his voice as he lays out his commands, "No demon is to enter her presence until I say otherwise."
"Right away, my lord." he pauses, knowing if he asks, he surely would be ended. Curiosity gets the better of him, "Master, what has caused you so much distress?"
"An impudent little man!" he gnarls. "How dare he come into my house and try to take what is mine!" Lord Asmodeus did realize that most of his anger is towards himself for letting such a lowly creature get the better of him. Which fuels the fact of how much he wants nothing more than to cause Darrell such great pain. "I will destroy him for it!"
"Tell me where I might find him and I shall with every bit of my own strength bring him to you, my lord!" Zuel bows, pleading for his master to let him help in his conquest.
"There is one way, I need you to bring HER to me." he grins wildly, adding a light sparkle of glee to his eye. Zuel understands what he needs to do. She was only called in when the situation has the need for finesse where brute force could not prevail. Her magic, powerful, striking fear into the boldest of hearts. Lord Asmodeus is the one demon who never feared her, giving him immense power over her. Anything he wishes, she did without question. The mere thought of her, sends a shiver through Zuel's frame. She knew everyone's weakness and exploits them to their fullest.
******
Darkness turns to the bright sun of a new day. Sarah rolls over, tucking the covers deeper around herself. Oh, how she wants to stay asleep. Her body finally warm and comfortable. The pillow top mattress cradling her aching body. The feather pillows cushioning her head. The sudden image of Lord Asmodeus' demon shape flashes in her mind's eye. Abruptly, she sits up. The move makes her head spin.
"Oh, God!" she whimpers, holding the side of her face.
"You are awake, my lady," A meek female voice announces, "I have brought you some breakfast." She bows and walks the tray over to the side table next to the bed. She is a fairly tall woman. Her frame nicely built, draped in a white silky robe, accenting her dark tanned skin. Her eyes, gray like a seagull's wings. Her dark hair, short, tapering towards her chin.
"I'm not," Sarah begins to says, but the rumble of her tummy interrupts her. "Well, I guess I am."
"The lord figured as much as he commanded me to attend to your every need. Anything you wish I shall do without hesitation, my lady."
"For starters, you can stop calling me, my lady. My name is Sarah. What is your name? You're not a demon?" she expresses with a friendly smile, after which she shoves a thick piece of toast dripping with egg yoke past her lips.
"My name is not important and no, I am human. The master thought it be best that I serve you and not a demon. I understand the reasoning. It is scary to be plunged into a world you do not understand. I can tell you from experience that it does get better. Lord Asmodeus is kind to his servant and treats us with the utmost care." she smiles in an attempt to comfort Sarah.
"I have yet to see such a manor from him." she lies. She has seen it, when he ultimately saved her from a fate worse than death if her captors caught her.
"I see. Do you wish to clean yourself after you have finished your meal?" the servant asks as she begins to fiddle around in the closet opposite the bed. Sarah can hear metal scraping across metal. The image of wire hangers being pushed aside, comes to mind.
"Yes, that would be nice, thank you." Sarah shovels the last of the eggs accompanying it with her final bite of bacon.
"Bath or shower?"
"Shower, please, not so nice memories with taking a bath." she chuckles with a hint of unease to her tone.
"Very well, I shall start it for you." The servant places a set of beautiful clothes at the end of Sarah's feet. Their color, a muted pastel green, laced with golden trim.
"I wish you would tell me your name. I can't go around calling you servant all the time.?" Sarah pleads.
"I have no name. I was never given one. If you wish you can name me?" A spark of hope enters the woman's eyes.
"I can do that. Everyone needs a name. It gives them a sense of identity. Knowing who you are, that's important." She ponders for a long moment, "How about....No, that won't do. Here, how about Chris? It's short for Christine?"
"Yes, I like it very much! Chris, how nice it is to say a name that I can call myself!" she giggles. The woman's face lights up like a light bulb at her new found identity.
"I'm glad you like it. Now, Chris, how about that shower?"
"Right away, Sarah!" she says with excitement.
